BOSSES at a North Yorkshire theme park have been ordered by a Government inspector to "tone down" one of their top attractions.

Inspector Paul Morris's decision means that Flamingo Land, near Malton, must remove distinctive red-and-white cladding from its 55-metre high Cliff Hanger ride and take down a flashing light.

The park has a stay of execution until the end of the 2003 tourist season - but within eight months the latticework under the cladding must be painted in a light grey, a less obtrusive colour.

Mr Morris, who held an informal meeting on March 18 with representatives from the district council and Flamingo Land, concluded in his report that there was little doubt the tower ride was noticeable from many viewpoints.

He wrote: "In my opinion, the tower as built looks like a solid pillar and the cladding has enabled the tower to be painted in vivid red and white bands which, together with the light structure, serves to emphasise the solidity of its appearance and contributes substantially to its obtrusiveness.

"It looks completely out of place when seen from a distance within this rural landscape, and this is more so because the other ride structures are not prominent and the tower looks totally isolated."

Ryedale District Council's development control manager Gary Housden said he was absolutely delighted with the decision.

"The council had initially granted permission for the ride, balancing the visual impact of what was going to be a grey lattice structure against the need for the site to continue to develop and be a tourist attraction," he said.

Mr Housden said despite their efforts to work with Flamingo Land, bosses did not heed their ruling.

"The ride was then built in the wrong place, covered in red and white cladding, with a light on the top," he said.

"Our view was that this was not what we had been happy with to appear in the first place.

"The inspector's decision has entirely vindicated the council."

An application for costs relating to the planning appeal was thrown out by Mr Morris.

He said the council had acted entirely reasonably and Flamingo Land were not entitled to costs.

A theme park spokesman said they had only just received the inspector's report. The park would be studying the appeal decision carefully before they responded to its findings.

Updated: 11:27 Wednesday, April 02, 2003